A Highlight Reel Turns to Heartbreak (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Las Vegas — The UNLV Rebels watched a promising victory slip away in the final moments Tuesday night during a chaotic 98-96 loss to Fresno State.[1][2]
A Highlight Reel Turns to Heartbreak
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn delivered a standout performance for the Rebels, scoring a team-high 28 points on efficient 10-of-13 shooting from the field. His shifty stepback jumper with four minutes remaining put UNLV ahead by eight points at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. Moments later, he fouled out, leaving his team vulnerable in a game already plagued by whistles.[1]
Howie Fleming Jr. added 23 points, while Issac Williamson and Kimani Hamilton each contributed 14. Yet the Rebels committed 19 turnovers, 12 in the second half, and racked up 35 fouls as five players fouled out. The contest lasted nearly three hours amid 62 total fouls, six technicals, and three flagrants.[2][3]
The Final Minutes Unravel
UNLV built a 69-56 lead with 10:13 left in the second half and held a 92-86 advantage with 28 seconds remaining. Fresno State mounted a comeback, fueled by the Rebels’ foul trouble. With six seconds on the clock and UNLV up 96-93, Al Green drew a foul on a fast break but received a flagrant call for striking an opponent in the neck.[1]
The Bulldogs converted free throws to close the gap, then David Douglas Jr. drained a three-pointer with 1.5 seconds left to tie the score at 96. On the inbound pass, Fleming overthrew the ball out of bounds, gifting Fresno State possession. Jake Heidbreder, who led all scorers with 29 points, sank the game-winning jumper as time expired.[3]
Foul Trouble Sinks the Rebels
Five UNLV players exited via fouls: Gibbs-Lawhorn with 2:06 left, Williamson at 1:27, Hamilton at 1:07, Emmanuel Stephen at 36 seconds, and another in the fray. Fresno State capitalized at the line, attempting 44 free throws and making 32 for crucial points.
- Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn: 28 points, fouled out
- Howie Fleming Jr.: 23 points
- Issac Williamson: 14 points, fouled out
- Kimani Hamilton: 14 points, fouled out
- Emmanuel Stephen: 2 points, fouled out
Early miscues compounded the issues, including a collision between Stephen and Gibbs-Lawhorn on an alley-oop attempt that cost easy transition points.[1]
Postgame Frustration Boils Over
First-year coach Josh Pastner shouldered blame for the inbound mishap, praising Fleming as a “warrior” and lamenting a lack of timeout. “We tried to give the game away 10 times and they ended up catching us on the 10th time,” Pastner said.[1]
Gibbs-Lawhorn held back sharper criticism but vented about officiating. “I feel like that one was taken from us,” he told reporters. The loss dropped UNLV to 10-12 overall and 5-6 in the Mountain West, matching Fresno State’s conference mark at 11-11 overall.[2]
| Team | Record (Overall/MWC) | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|
| UNLV Rebels | 10-12 / 5-6 | 35 fouls |
| Fresno State Bulldogs | 11-11 / 5-6 | 29 pts by Heidbreder |
Key Takeaways
- UNLV led by as many as 13 but faltered with 19 turnovers.
- 62 fouls led to 80 free-throw attempts combined.
- Rebels host Grand Canyon Saturday at Thomas & Mack Center.
The Rebels now face a critical stretch to halt their skid, starting with Grand Canyon on Saturday afternoon. Pastner’s squad showed fight but must shore up discipline to rebound. What do you think went wrong for UNLV? Tell us in the comments.
